Robert Walpole, 2nd Earl Of Orford

Robert Walpole, 2nd Earl of Orford, KB (1701 – 31 March 1751), was a British peer and politician. He was styled Lord Walpole from 1723 until 1745.

**Origins**

He was born in 1701 as the eldest son of Sir Robert Walpole (1676–1745), who is regarded as the first British Prime Minister, and his first wife, Catherine Shorter. His father declined a peerage for himself in 1723 but accepted it on behalf of his son, leading to Robert Walpole's elevation to the peerage as Baron Walpole, of Walpole in the County of Norfolk, at the age of 22.

**Marriage and Family**

Around 26 March 1724, Lord Walpole married Margaret Rolle (1709–1781), who was 15 years old at the time. Margaret was the only surviving daughter of Colonel Samuel Rolle (1646–1719) of Heanton Satchville, Petrockstowe. She was the heiress of a junior branch of the Rolle family of Stevenstone in Devon, and also inherited from her paternal grandmother, Lady Arabella Clinton, a co-heiress related to the Earl of Lincoln and the Barons Clinton.

The marriage was reportedly unsuccessful, with Margaret Walpole quarrelling with her husband's family. After the birth of one son, the couple lived apart and eventually obtained a legal separation.

In approximately 1736, Hannah Norsa, a singer and actress at Covent Garden, became Walpole's mistress and resided at Houghton Hall in Norfolk until his death in 1751. It is believed that her financial support prevented him from dying bankrupt. During his absences, she was escorted by Reverend William Paxton, Walpole’s chaplain, who received a small remuneration for his service.

Following Walpole's death, Lady Margaret Walpole became the 15th Baroness Clinton in her own right after succeeding her cousin Hugh Fortescue, 1st Earl Clinton. She remarried Hon Sewallis Shirley after Walpole's death but soon separated from him. Lady Clinton died in Pisa, Tuscany, in 1781, and was buried in Leghorn. She was described as a woman of "very singular character" and was considered "half mad" by her friend Selina, Countess of Huntingdon.

**Burial**

Robert Walpole was interred at the Church of St Martin at Tours, located on the Houghton Hall estate.

**Progeny**

Both Robert Walpole and Margaret Rolle's successor titles were inherited by their son George Walpole, 3rd Earl of Orford and 16th Baron Clinton (1730–1791). George was a noted falconer but left no legitimate children and died insane.

**Career**

Throughout his life, Robert Walpole held various official positions, including:

- Clerk of the Pells (1721–1739)

- Auditor of the Receipt of the Exchequer (1739–1751)

- Ranger of Richmond Park

- High Steward of Yarmouth

- Lord Lieutenant of Devon (1733–1751)

**Heraldry**

The entry contains a section titled "Arms," although specific heraldic details are not provided.

**References**

The biographical information is supported by references to Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990) and Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages, as well as thepeerage.com.